Throughout the rest of November, you may see your local Girl Scouts at various places around town selling nuts and candy. You will probably pause and say to yourself, “Since when do the Girl Scouts sell nuts and candy? They’re the cookie people.”
While it is true that we’re known for cookies, Girl Scouts are so much more. The products we’re selling now are also part of our national program designed to teach girls the financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills necessary to become confident women capable of doing anything they choose.
When a girl sells our sweet and savory treats, she’s doing more than making a sale; she’s receiving a lifelong lesson in selfconfidence and leadership. Best of all, proceeds from these programs provide a large portion of the funding that helps us teach her to achieve her dreams.
Now, in these uncertain times, Girl Scouts is more important than ever for girls who will grow up to be the female leaders of tomorrow. Our programs and activities provide a safe place for girls to discover their voices, connect with each other and their communities, and take action in their neighborhoods and around the globe to develop the necessary leadership skills to conquer the world and achieve their dreams.
Some girls will discover who they are in large groups, speaking to hundreds while touching each set of ears on an individual level. Others will find their voices ring out loudest when they’re speaking in the smallest of settings.
We help girls become women of courage, confidence and character. We are proud that 82 cents from every dollar we receive goes toward the Girl Scout experience of girls who live in Ocean and Monmouth counties. This council money directly reduces the amount girls pay for programs, trips, camp and other basic Girl Scout activities they’ve loved for generations. These funds also provide financial aid for those who could otherwise not afford Girl Scouts.
There is no one way to help girls become strong and courageous. There is no one method to teach them confidence. There is no one set of morals that teaches them how to be the leader they crave.
If you see a Girl Scout in your community selling nuts and candy, please stop and recognize her; you’ll hear her voice shake as she asks if you want to buy Girl Scout products. If you can, buy something, even if it’s just one container. If you can’t, give encouragement. It’s not easy to talk with someone you don’t know, but the confidence built by Girl Scout programs like this last a lifetime.
As you walk away, you’ll see she has just a bit more confidence than she did when you arrived. And, most importantly, when she participates next time, her voice won’t shake nearly as much.
Susan H. McClure
CEO
Girl Scouts of the
Jersey Shore
Toms River